This Christmas Explosion box has three separate layers of decoration. Each on explodes open when the lid is removed. It is based on a design by Jennifer Maker. But you will love this one too.
I made this box with one sided paper but it would look much better with two sided paper. Alternately you could decorate the inside panels. I wanted to get this posted before Christmas so you could make one. There are so many possibilities for making this more amazing. Use your imagination.
What you will need
- Fairly stiff Cardstock
- various scraps of cardstock
- Pen
- glue
- Download File
Paper Selection
I used one sided paper which left the insides of the box white. This is elegant and simple but two sided paper would add some bling. Patterned paper works very well for this project.
Actually I used different paper for each mat regardless of the “color” of the mat. It added some nice variety. This is a good project to just let go and use your imagination.
Cutting
This project is easy to cut The hardest part is the cutout layer and fitting the pieces back together to fill in the cutouts. Keep track of the little pieces of that layer so you don’t lose them.
I combined all the little pieces on one mat. To see how to do that watch my video.
Assembly
Separate all the embellishment pieces for each box so that you can keep them straight.
First glue all the embellishments on each layer. Then fold the lids together. The candy cane drawings go on the inside box. Put the ribbons on the next box. The Santa cutouts go on the outer box. The lid of the outer box has the 3D ribbon. Look at the picture to see how the layers work.
You may need to cut the corner of the lids to fold them. Snip one piece of each corner up to the line creating a tab. And then fold them all down, gluing the tab to the inside of the lid
Glue the bottom of the inside boxes to the back of the box bigger than it. Then fold up the sides and put the lid on. The sides do not get glued.
As you open each lid the sides open exposing the next box. Put a special surprise in the last box.
Cordelia loves these boxes. For an added treat you might glue pockets to the inside of the boxes and but pictures or cash , or any flat little treat in them. When I do this box again for a birthday or another holiday I will add some of these extras but I ran out of time before Christmas.
